njdiver1
Contributor
AMERICAN LOBSTER 2016 REGULATION CHANGE
December 23, 2015
Dear New Jersey American Lobster Permit Holder; New Jersey Lobster/Fish/Conch Pot License
Holder; Federal Lobster Dealer:
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) adopted Addendum XVII to the American
Lobster Fisheries Management Plan requiring the Southern New England Lobster Management Stock
Area to implement a 10% reduction in landings for fishing year 2013. In October 2014, the Lobster
Management Board revised management options to achievement the 10% reduction for LCMA 4 and 5, as
required by Addendum XVII. At the request of several LCMA 5 states, the Lobster Management Board
reviewed and determined during its Winter meeting that LCMA 5 met its 10% reduction, and would
reinstatement original measures previously approved in 2012. Therefore, the ASMFC’s revised
management measures for the 2016 fishing year is as follows (please note the following measures have
been implemented by the National Marine Fisheries Service and are effective in federal waters);
In Area 4, effective January 1, 2016, a person fishing with any gear type in LCMA 4 or that has
designated LCMA 4 on their Federal Fisheries or State Lobster Pot Permit shall not take or attempt to
take, land, have in his or her possession, sell or offer to sell, any American lobster during the closed
season of April 30 through May 31, 2016. This is the only closed period for LCMA 4. In addition to
the season closure, it is also not mandatory to v-notch egg-bearing lobsters. During the closed season, no
dealer shall accept, have in their possession, buy, sell or offer to buy or sell American lobsters from
LCMA 4.
In Area 5, effective January 1, 2016, a person fishing with any gear type in LCMA 5 or that has
designated LCMA 5 on their Federal Fisheries or State Lobster Pot Permit shall not take or attempt to
take, land, have in his or her possession, sell or offer to sell, any American lobster during the closed
season of February 1 through March 31, 2016. This is the only closed period for LCMA 5. The
previous closed season of April 30 – May 31 is re-opened and it is again MANDATORY to v-notch eggbearing lobsters. During the closed season, no dealer shall accept, have in their possession, buy, sell or
offer to buy or sell American lobsters from LCMA 5.
During the LCMA closed season, all lobster traps must be removed from the water. Lobster traps may be
set un-baited one week prior to the designated season reopening for each specific LCMA. If the license
holder is targeting/harvesting other species with lobster trap gear, the lobster trap gear does not need to be
removed; however it shall be tended at least once every 30 days. Any fishermen that possess both a
LCMA 4 and LCMA 5 Federal Fisheries or State Lobster Pot Permit will be held to the most restrictive
measures of both areas. If you have any questions, please contact the Bureau of Marine Fisheries at 609-
748-2020.
Sincerely,
Brandon Muffley
For
Peter Clarke
Senior Biologist Fisheries
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2016/lobsterchange16.pdf.
http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/adminchg/20151116a.pdf
December 23, 2015
Dear New Jersey American Lobster Permit Holder; New Jersey Lobster/Fish/Conch Pot License
Holder; Federal Lobster Dealer:
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) adopted Addendum XVII to the American
Lobster Fisheries Management Plan requiring the Southern New England Lobster Management Stock
Area to implement a 10% reduction in landings for fishing year 2013. In October 2014, the Lobster
Management Board revised management options to achievement the 10% reduction for LCMA 4 and 5, as
required by Addendum XVII. At the request of several LCMA 5 states, the Lobster Management Board
reviewed and determined during its Winter meeting that LCMA 5 met its 10% reduction, and would
reinstatement original measures previously approved in 2012. Therefore, the ASMFC’s revised
management measures for the 2016 fishing year is as follows (please note the following measures have
been implemented by the National Marine Fisheries Service and are effective in federal waters);
In Area 4, effective January 1, 2016, a person fishing with any gear type in LCMA 4 or that has
designated LCMA 4 on their Federal Fisheries or State Lobster Pot Permit shall not take or attempt to
take, land, have in his or her possession, sell or offer to sell, any American lobster during the closed
season of April 30 through May 31, 2016. This is the only closed period for LCMA 4. In addition to
the season closure, it is also not mandatory to v-notch egg-bearing lobsters. During the closed season, no
dealer shall accept, have in their possession, buy, sell or offer to buy or sell American lobsters from
LCMA 4.
In Area 5, effective January 1, 2016, a person fishing with any gear type in LCMA 5 or that has
designated LCMA 5 on their Federal Fisheries or State Lobster Pot Permit shall not take or attempt to
take, land, have in his or her possession, sell or offer to sell, any American lobster during the closed
season of February 1 through March 31, 2016. This is the only closed period for LCMA 5. The
previous closed season of April 30 – May 31 is re-opened and it is again MANDATORY to v-notch eggbearing lobsters. During the closed season, no dealer shall accept, have in their possession, buy, sell or
offer to buy or sell American lobsters from LCMA 5.
During the LCMA closed season, all lobster traps must be removed from the water. Lobster traps may be
set un-baited one week prior to the designated season reopening for each specific LCMA. If the license
holder is targeting/harvesting other species with lobster trap gear, the lobster trap gear does not need to be
removed; however it shall be tended at least once every 30 days. Any fishermen that possess both a
LCMA 4 and LCMA 5 Federal Fisheries or State Lobster Pot Permit will be held to the most restrictive
measures of both areas. If you have any questions, please contact the Bureau of Marine Fisheries at 609-
748-2020.
Sincerely,
Brandon Muffley
For
Peter Clarke
Senior Biologist Fisheries
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2016/lobsterchange16.pdf.
http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/adminchg/20151116a.pdf
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